Karnataka

Anganwadi workers threaten dharna

Chitradurga: Members of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the State Anganwadi Worker’s Federation will launch an indefinite dharna in Bangalore from January 16 to press for their demands.

Announcing this to presspersons here on Thursday, State unit president of the AITUC H.K. Ramachandrappa said the members want the Government to provide a retirement fund of Rs. 1 lakh to anganwadi workers and Rs. 50,000 to assistants who had put in over 30 years of service. The Government should also provide the benefit of provident fund to anganwadi workers by deducting Rs. 150 from their salary and by contributing an equal amount to the fund every month.

The Government should also provide a pension of Rs. 1,500 to anganwadi workers and Rs. 750 to assistants, Mr. Ramachandrappa said.

As the prices of essential commodities had increased, the Government should increase the salary of anganwadi workers to Rs. 5,000 a month. To pressure the Government to fulfil these demands, the federation had decided not to submit any details such as quarterly report of self-help groups to the department concerned, Mr. Ramachandrappa said.

The organisation would also launch “Belguam Chalo” rally on January 19 when the joint session of the legislature would be on in Belguam.

Mr. Ramachandrappa said that over one lakh anganwadi workers in the State were serving in various sectors for over three decades without getting a decent salary.

The Government should provide them social security by increasing their salary and by giving them benefits similar to those being extended to group D employees, he said.

Treasurer of the State unit N. Shivanna said that the organisation was supporting the ongoing countrywide truckers’ strike.

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